5 Awesome Africa Safari Attractions

Posted at October 28, 2010

Africa is to most associated with war and poverty as those are the news making headlines in world journalism. Have you ever wondered if there is more to Africa than just that? Well, the natives of this glorious land can attest differently. Africa is endowed with countless beauty not to mention artistic talents in every field known to man.

1. Maasai Mara Game Reserve
Among the pride of Africa is the East Africa’s renowned Maasai Mara game reserve where the exhilarating phenomenon known as the wildebeest migration occurring annually between the months of July and October comprising of over 1.5 million ungulates occurs.

Just like nomads the 1.8 million wildebeest, 500,000 Zebras and 200,000 Gazelles are in constant search for greener pastures and as such move between the open plains of the Serengeti and the Maasai Mara in search of greener pastures with predators in close pursuit of the herd in anticipation of striking the weakest of the prey as they make their way into different territories in a never ending journey and as such a circle of life and death. With a growing interest of the spectacular site at the mara river the migration has earned it self the title of the 7th wonder of the world.

2. Victoria Falls
Another pride associated with Africa is the thundering smoke known to the world as Victoria Falls and to the locals as Mosi-oa-Tunya situated in Southern Africa, a grandeur of Zambezi River in the countries of Zambia and Zimbabwe.

At the height of the flood season an awe-inspiring experience is evidenced as columns of spray are seen from miles away as 546 million cubic meters of water per minute plummet over the edge in a width of nearly two kilometers into a deep gorge over 100 meters below. The wide basalt cliff, over which the falls thunder, transforms the Zambezi from a wide placid river to a ferocious torrent cutting through a series of dramatic gorges.

There are various vantage points from where one can enjoy this spectacularly spellbinding phenomenon namely the falls bridge, the look out tree commanding a splendid panorama across the main fall with the most special vantage point being across the Knife edge bridge, where visitors can have the finest view of the Eastern Cataract and the Main Falls as well as the Boiling Pot where the river turns and heads down the Batoka Gorge.

As the world’s largest sheet of falling water Victoria Falls is one of the most spectacular natural wonders of the world with a universal appeal to travellers and adventure seekers in white water rafting.

3. Kruger National Park
Toward the south most end of Africa is the country of South Africa where you find the Kruger National park in an area covering 18,989 square kilometres and extends 360 kilometres from north to south and 65 kilometres from east to west.

The park boasts of having spectacular flora and fauna. The Flora comprises an estimated 1,982 species of plants all spread across the 6 ecosystems of Kruger National Park, they include Baobab sandveld, Mopane scrub, Lebombo knobthorn-marula bushveld, mixed acacia thicket, Combretum-silver clusterleaf woodland on granite and riverine forest.

The fauna comprises of 517 bird species out of which 253 are residents, 117 non-breeding migrants, and 147 nomads. The park is infamous for having the largest population of mammals species in Africa estimated at 147 species. Also habituating in Kruger is 114 species of reptile, including 3000 crocodiles.

Another major attraction to this park is the presence of all the big 5 namely Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Rhino and Elephant. Also found here in their packs is the endangered African Wild Dog, of which there are thought to be only about 400 in the whole of South Africa.

4. Ancient Egypt Pyramids
On the further north of Africa is the country of Egypt renowned for the centuries old pyramids. The pyramids were built as tombs for the country’s Pharaohs and their consorts during the Old and Middle Kingdom periods. A total of 138 pyramids have been discovered with the earliest being located at Saqqara, northwest of Memphis.

The three largest and best-preserved of these were built at Giza at the beginning of the Old Kingdom. The most renowned of these pyramids was built for the pharaoh Khufu and is referred to as the ‘Great Pyramid’ and is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still in existence.

The great pyramid is estimated to contain approximately 2,300,000 blocks of stone with an average weight of 2.5 tonnes each and some up to 15 tonnes. Its sides measure 230 meters in length. The structure initially towered about 146.6 meters high, but has since shortened owing to the removal of the outer casing to pave way for construction of other buildings during the Middle Ages. The interior design was changed during the pyramid’s construction and the burial chamber was relocated.

Attributed to the Egyptian pyramid achievement is the architect Imhotep, who planned what Egyptologists believe to be a tomb for the pharaoh Djoser. Imhotep pioneered the notion of stacking mastabas on top of each other forming an edifice composed of a number of steps that reduced in size towards its apex, resulting in the Step Pyramid of Djoser an intricate design aimed at serving as a gigantic stairway by which the soul of the deceased pharaoh could ascend to the heavens.

5. Mt.Kilimanjaro
Back to East Africa and we find another pride of Africa known as Mt.Kilimanjaro which is the second highest mountain in Africa after Mt.Everest and the highest freestanding mountain in the world.

Mt.Kilimanjaro lies 3 degrees south of the equator and boasts of having the highest peak (Kibo) in the whole of Africa measuring 5,892m followed by Mawenzi to the east measuring 5120m and Shira measuring 3962m to the west. The total area covered by the mountain is 157, 200 acres of land.

Ascension to the very top of this mountain affords your one of the most spectacular views of the surrounding plains and the satisfaction of having achieved what more than 22,000 climbers/trekkers attempt to do each year out of which 40% never make it to the summit.

Discovered in 1848 by a German missionary known as Johannes Rebmann on an exploration of the area, the missionary submitted his findings to the Royal Geographical Society resulting in a continued interest in hiking of this outstanding mountain where a number of unsuccessful attempts by various explorers to conquer the summit were made, a streak which ended on 6 October 1889 when Dr. Hans Meyer, with Ludwig Purtscheller an experienced alpine mountaineer, managed to reach the summit successfully.

The expedition consisted of many porters, guides and advisors and took the gallant Meyer almost 6 weeks to reach the summit a duration 6 times as long as it takes the average climber in the present day.

With this list of a few of Africa’s awesome attractions there is not a doubt in my mind that in your visit to Africa you are sure to have a memorable time regardless of the country, as wonders are all over. Africa is truly a nature’s paradise with lots to marvel about.